Sunday, February 02, 2014

I am settling in to watch the Super Bowl. Honestly, I don't really have a dog in this fight. My hometown birds are not in it so I could care less who is going to win the whole thing or who is going to be going to Disney World. Although I probably should be cheering for the Seahawks because my big sister now makes her home in that fine city.

Good luck sis; it should be a fun game.

Tonight, though, before the game, I want to blog about something that is not in any way related to the word fun. Tonight I want to write about the treatment of people of color in this country back in the day.

I know that it makes some of my friends in the majority population uncomfortable, but it's Black History Month, so I believe that it's appropriate to talk about this (alleged) uncomfortable part of our nation's history.

I remember not long after I met my father in law, he told me a story that he said a Cajun --who used to work for him in his auto shop-- told him that was passed on to the man by his own father.

The man said that his father told him that when he was a little boy he ran up on one of his father's hunting camps by accident, and that he saw what he thought was a black bear gutted and strung up on a tree. He said that he was shocked and terrified when he found out later that it was one of the local "colored" fellows and not an animal as he had first thought. He was sick about it, he says, for years.

I never really believed that story. I thought, at the time, that my father in law was just scaring me about Louisiana and the way they did things down there as a warning not to do wrong by his daughter.

But recently I read a story that has me rethinking my position. I know that this was a cruel and barbaric time towards blacks in America, but when you read about certain things that took place in our history, you have to really wonder about the inhumanity of some people towards others.

"Q: I am currently involved in a campaign here against a fast food chain called Daisy's who has an "Alligator Bait" picture on the wall of one of its franchises. I wrote to the vice president of the franchise and his response was that each restaurant may have what they want on the wall, it's "American art". The fast food chain has a 50's USA theme to it. In the mail I explained the background of this image, that it is demeaning, horrible and also that it may have historic background too. This is why I write to you, you have a very serious site.

Were babies ever used as bait?

--Maria - Stockholm, Sweeden via Facebook

A: It isn't really a question of whether African American babies were used as alligator bait, but the question is how frequent was the practice? During slavery and the Jim Crow era in the United States, African Americans were brutalized and mistreated in almost every way imaginable. If there was a way to kill, maim, oppress, or use an African American for any reason, it more than likely happened. If the skin from an African American might be used for leather shoes or handbags, (see Human Leather), then pretty much all atrocities were possible and probable. African American babies being used as alligator bait really happened, and it happened to real people. It doesn't seem to have been a widespread practice, but it did happen.

It is hard to process the thinking that could lead a person to actually use a live human baby as bait for an alligator. That is why the objects in the Jim Crow Museum are so important - they help tell the story of a society that defined African Americans as "sub-human" by portraying them as savage and worthless creatures ("Americans Forced", 1944). If people are indoctrinated, over and over again, with items, images, objects, and practices that devalue the humanity of African Americans, then practices like "African Dodger", "Human Zoos" and "Alligator bait" become possible.

In 1908 the Washington Times reported that a keeper at the New York Zoological Garden baited "Alligators With Pickaninnies" out of their winter quarters. In the article two "small colored children happened to drift through the reptile house among the throng of visitors" and they were "pressed into service." The alligators "wobbled out as quick as they could after the ebony mites, who darted around the tank just as the pursuing monsters fell with grunts of chagrin into the water." The alligators were "coaxed" into their summer quarters by "plump little Africans" ("Baits Alligators").

The headline in the September 21, 1923 Oakland Tribune reads "PICKANINNY BAIT LURES VORACIOUS 'GATOR TO DEATH. And Mother Gets Her Baby Back in Perfect Condition; Also $2". In the article T.W. Villiers chronicles the entire process of using black babies as bait and how "these little black morsels are more than glad to be led to the 'sacrifice' and do their part in lurking the big Florida gators to their fate without suffering so much as a scratch." Villiers is quick to point out that the babies are brought out of the "water alive and whole and come out wet and laughing" and that "there is nothing terrible about it, except that it is spelling death for the alligators." In a strange twist, Villiers reports on the hunter's attempts to rationalize the motivation of the alligators to

"jeopardize every hope of life for a live baby, and in the matter of color, the additional information is vouchsafed that black babies, in the estimation of the alligators, are far more refreshing, as it were, than white ones."

The article describes the process of placing the babies near the alligator's haunts, with the hunters hidden behind the brush with their rifles. When the baby "attracts" the gator and it exposes his "head and forequarters", the hunters shoot the gator and claim their "prize." And, just in case someone happens to care about the welfare of the baby, the reader is assured that "Florida alligator hunters do not ever miss their targets." After the baby is returned to its mother, she is paid the set price of two dollars (Villiers, 1923).

This event was also reported by the Atlanta Independent, America's Standard Negro Newspaper of Character, Circulation and Opinion, a few weeks later ("Babies Used").

One of the most disturbing articles about using babies as alligator bait was reprinted in numerous United States papers from 1888 until 1911. This article refers to an advertisement in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) newspapers: "Babies Wanted for Crocodile Bait. Will be Returned Alive." The whole process is described in detail and painted as a harmless way for Ceylonese mothers to earn a "small consideration" for the use of their "dark brown infants with curling toes" to attract crocodiles ("Babies for Crocodile").

In July 1968, the Los Angeles Times ran an article about the great fireballer Bob Gibson. Gibson talked about the struggle to get respect as a baseball player and as a man. He recounted a story from his rookie year in Columbus, Georgia about a fan who called him "alligator bait". Gibson laughed it off, but then he was told by some local folk that "Negro youngsters" were actually used in baiting alligators. "That's where Negroes stood in Columbus" said Gibson, and went on to talk about the struggles he was currently enduring (Chapin). One interesting aspect of Bob Gibson's story is the response from Cecil Darby, the sports editor of the Columbus, Ga. Ledger. Darby dismissed the story of African Americans as "alligator bait" as "tongue-in-cheek" and criticized Gibson for being "naive enough to fall for such a fantastic tale." Darby dismissed the claim as a complete fabrication ("Golden Park", 2007)." [More]

This practice was brought to my attention by one of my twitter followers who sent me this link. I still didn't quite believe it, so I Googled it and was surprised at how much stories there was about the subject. ---Including the Ferris State article above.

Anyway, I am no historian, so I cannot say definitively that this practice took place. But I will say this; if it did, I wouldn't be at all surprised.

57 comments:

It's true alright! You should research the experiments done on Blacks by those in the medical field during slavery and Jim Crow. The syphilis episode was just the tip of the iceberg. It was much more worse, cruel, and horrible than that.

That's why elderly black people say all the time they don't trust doctors. My granny used to tell me that all the time. She never went to a doctor,used old homemade remedies, and they worked too. Some of it was nasty as I don't know what, but it worked.

There is some medical value in the prickly tree, different herbs, and plants. Some of my people still make prickly tree tea from the bark.

Granny they did the kinds of medical 'experiments' here with the African population!

As well as my grandma says that at the local clinics where they would also dispense the meds, if there wasn't enough to go around, which of course there never was, the meds would be given to the whites!

My grandma aslo made her 'guarapos''tisanes''poultices' etc. and all manner of things with plants.

These were recipes bought over from Africa. She lived to be 88. Slender and hard as a steel. Amen :D

Yep, my ancestors lived a long time as well using homemade remedies. Sometimes I wish that I would have paid more attention to many of those homemade remedies that they used.

Meds tend to cause side affects that add on more health problems and result in another med being added to the so-call cure list that the side affects from the last med caused. It's an unending continuing process to make money off of people's health.

Eventually, the meds bottles begin to look like soldiers lined up in rows.

Anonymous GrannyStandingforTruth said...Eventually, the meds bottles begin tolook like soldiers lined up in rows.7:52 PM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:D yes they do! The thing is that a lot of the plants and herbs they used are very scarce or just not found anywhere. Nobody grows then anymore.

She used to make a tea out of one that cured ulcers.

From the leaf of the pigeon pea plant they made a tea to ease diabetes.

There's one for high blood pressure, and so on and so forth!

I know the names of some of them,but you have to go around asking the old folks if they know where it grows.

And of course the "planta sagrada" or "sacred plant' which is the Aloe Vera. Which is good for so many things.

I just made myself a juice and aloe concoction last night,(I have two huge plants)to see if it will help me with a smoke inhalation problem I'm having.Because the pharmas are not only hugely expensive but so sloooow!

Of course this happened, but when things turn around (Matthew 20:16) we won't be as cruel.

The President kicked O'Reilly's butt finally calling him and his network out on their bogus lies. It's about time someone besides Jon Stewart did it. O'Reilly and his crew will spend the week spinning the interview in the so called 'no spin zone' in his favor.

My cousin drank tea from and prickly tree bark for diabetes and arthritis. He claims that he does not suffer from either anymore. I know that he doesn't have to take meds anymore, is healthy, so it evidently it works. Cinnamon is good for diabetes too.

Nevertheless, a person still has to have knowledge of how to make up those remedies. You just cannot go an pick the bark and think that is all to it.

Why is that Republicans live in a fantasy world and see reality as nonexistent? I guess it makes them feel good about themselves, but why they like to keep themselves in an make believe world is beyond me.

Before I go, I often wonder if some of those extreme rightwing folks have some type of learning disability that makes them see distorted, fiction reality. I'm just saying. Crazier than a road lizard! Smh!

FN brothers and sisters, so black babies were used as alligator bait during slavery. What does it mean today other than the fact our lives are still looked upon as 'less than' Whites?

Evil still rules the earth and it certainly isn't going to change anytime soon. We just happen to be the bait needed by devils because we are so easy and vulnerable. God can't help those who have turned their backs on Him.

Mr Field, I find it insulting that you have a troll alert posted about anons; and yet you remain delinquent with Anon Inc. I mean, you haven't paid a damn cent on our 2014 contractual agreement. And you have the nerve to put up that shitty troll alert?

I submit that you are so cruel that you would rival any stormfront hick today. You see, Stormfront also has a contract with us and they have paid up for 2014!

Have you ever considered attending debtor's anonymous, or Liars Anonymous? Well, you should.

Sadly, other than the occasional "granny" comment, I have yet to see any evidence that black children were ever used as "bait".

On the other hand, if you want to talk about how blacks treat White Grandmothers, I can provide scientific evidence.

I Quote:

"Of all the metrics of black violent crime against whites the sexual homicide of elderly white women offers the most compelling evidence of race hatred toward the victim. For starters, the motives of the perp in any sexual homicide of an elderly woman is pure hatred. His victim is largely symbolic. His motive is not lust but extreme hatred."

The study involved a review of 110 offenders who perpetrated the rape and murder of 128 women 60 years and older. The mean age of the victims was 77 and 97% were black on White. The gut wrenching comes in the last paragraph, in the interview section (!) almost buried and forgotten, an aside:

“Based on other reports, Safarik says that there has never been a case of sexual homicide involving a white offender and an elderly black victim in modern times. Yet the sexual homicide of elderly white women by black men is epidemic in comparison.”

(Special Agent Mark E. Safarik, a profiler in the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI Academy, published in the May issue of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence)

Never been a case. Never. So this is an answer to those who say “Whites do it too!”. They don’t like people pointing out the negros rape and murder White Grandmothers out of Hate and negros are the only ones who do."

The Entire entry can be read on SBPDL as the Entry "Whites do it too!" Use the search function. Also, it will make you understand the psychological aspects of the negro toward elderly whites. The unbridled hate.

in the fantasy word that the left lives in-detroit and cities like it- is the fault of Republicans.

Reality is progressivism kills. The people you vote into office and defend continue to destroy the cities. While Wayne continues to go all Al Sharpton and talk about gator bait, blacks continue to eat their own.

Progressivism Kills

Detroit has the highest child-mortality rate of any American city, exceeding that of many parts of what we used to call the Third World. The rate of death before the age of 18 in Detroit is nearly three times New York City’s, and its infant-mortality rate exceeds that of Botswana. The main cause of premature death among the children of Detroit is premature birth — the second is murder. While the city’s murder rate among adults is nothing to be proud of, more horrifying is the fact that between 30 and 40 children are murdered in Detroit in a typical year. Some of those children are nine-month-olds killed by rifle fire in their beds; some are budding criminals in their late teens — and each of those situations offers its own unique horrors. So dangerous is the city that children are being armed by their parents, which has predictable consequences. “I work in the Wayne County Juvenile Court, and these children are obtaining guns from adults,” children’s-law attorney Lynda White told the Detroit News, which has been conducting an in-depth investigation of how Detroit’s children are dying. “They’re obtaining guns illegally from people who are supposed to be responsible and people who are supposed to protect them. And if that person who has a huge influence in your life is giving you a gun, some of them tend to think it’s okay to carry it. And they’re being told, ‘You need this for your protection, you live in Detroit.’”

Detroit represents nothing less than progressivism in its final stage of decadence:

Saying it doesn't make it so. I think the stories about alligator bait are a matter of wishful thinking by racist Americans.

African-Americans were treated no worse than Native Americans. In the 1700s the government was giving rewards for the heads of Indians. In MD we had a highway named Indian Head Highway...so named because the heads of Indians were posted all along that road. In PG Country..it was the heads of the members of the Piscataway tribe. Which was decimated to extinction. Like so many tribes which on longer exist.

Now African Americans are happily praising the present government which has continued to do to them what they did to the Native Americans. Is extermination the goal? They simply voluntarily abort 16 MILLION African-American babies.

Again, the descendants of the perverts who butchered Native and African peoples continue to enjoy the fruits of their ancestors' perversions("gator bait" to castrations and removal of body parts). See: "Without Sanctuary", by Hilton Als and James Allen.Again, these same descendants constitute the core heart and soul of the repugnican/tea parties; including bible-thumpin' evangelicals.

These mofos are bi-polar. Now are we mindless babymakers who have millions of out of wedlock babies or assisting the government in a secret genocide plot led by Planned Parenthood? I wonder what Bill has to say about this.

Dear Mr Field, it is with a heavy heart that I post this comment regarding the Obama vs O'Reilly interview. Much like the Seahawks romped over those sorry Broncos, O'Reilly romped over Obama.

Btw, I do believe O'bama is an Irish name from waaay back! I swear, these days you can't tell who's who around us or who's who running our country. FP, I hear ya about those defeated devils causing confusion in the world, esp in America.

Anyway, here is the interview:

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/index.html#/v/3142612336001

For the life of me I can't understand why O'bama would agree to such an interview knowing fully well that he was going to lose to an unbeatable foe. That's like the Eagles trying to beat the Giants...it just ain't going to happen.

Desert, your comment claiming O'Reilly seemed nervous and the President doing well is a "ball face lie".

I plan to picket Field's office tomorrow against sending you a check. Because right now, I feel that you are in a confused state of mind and in no condition to handle any type of fiscal responsibly and that someone would take advantage of you. Being that I'm very concerned about your well-being and don't want anyone to take advantage of you. I've been worried about you because you seem to be having some bouts of illusion.

I believe that O'Reilly has slipped something in your coffee that has your thinking abilities a little off balance. I'm only doing this for your own good.

I'm on my way now to round up all of the advocates I know and make arrangements to hire a private company to transport us all to Field's office bright and early Wednesday morning.

I'm only doing this because I care.

Btw, Desert round up those folks on your end to come with us. I'll meet you there.

Billionaires Alice Walton, George Soros and Marc Benioff are helping to finance a super-political action committee encouraging former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president, according to a report filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-01/walton-benioff-join-billionaires-backing-clinton-in-2016.html

I remember the old days when democrats were against big money in politics.

Q: Are there any basic rules for what works and what doesn’t politically?A: Republicans are easier for us than Democrats. Democrats tend to take it personally; Republicans think it’s funny. http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/lorne-michaels-on-tonight-show-snl.html

Many thought it was political bias.

Now we learn SNL had to coddle the scared little democrats that took it personally.

Africans Americans were treated no worse than Native Americans? Really?

So, I guess taking a child from their mother's and fathers and selling them was not so bad after all. Or raping little girls and women wasn't so bad after all. Or using other human beings for bizarre medical experiments wasn't so bad after all. Or murdering at whim other human beings because you felt like it wasn't so bad after all. Or working folks from sun up to sundown without pay wasn't so bad after all. Or robbing folks of their humanity wasn't so bad after all. Or starving, supplying them with inadequate shelter, clothing, or basic needs wasn't so bad after all. Or breaking up households and selling marital spouses, denying parental rights to those who procreated those children in the world wasn't so bad after all. Or depriving them of proper medical treatment, veterinarians doctors treating human beings wasn't so bad after all. And yes, cutting their heads off and hanging them on poles (in 1811 St. John the Baptist Parish), cutting off their feet, hands, branding them with fire irons, cutting off their ears, fingers, or other extremities wasn't so bad after all, huh Barb?

Oh,I could go on and on, but why should I, since, after all, it wasn't no worse than Native Americans even though many African Americans were murdered on a daily basis and the government supported it. In fact, they encouraged it with their one sided, double standard laws.

I agree that Paul’s aim was true. He distracted from the Republicans’ abysmal war on women by pointing at an abysmal moment in feminist history, when feminists betrayed their principles to defend a president who had behaved in a regressive way with women because he had progressive policies on women.

Instead of owning up, Bill Clinton forced his humiliated wife, a feminist icon, and women in his cabinet — Madeleine Albright and Donna Shalala — into the dreadful position of defending him when he was lying about his conduct.

Seven years after the feminists tried to bring down a Supreme Court nominee for sexual harassment — but really for his conservative stances — they went into contortions to defend Clinton.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/opinion/sunday/dowd-the-gospel-according-to-paul.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0

Help me pass this and then I will give you special protections from the law you are helping me pass.The check is in the mail.

Labor leaders who have spent months lobbying unsuccessfully for special protections under the Affordable Care Act warned this week that the White House’s continued refusal to help is dampening union support for Democratic candidates in this year’s midterm elections.

Leaders of two major unions, including the first to endorse Obama in 2008, said they have been betrayed by an administration that wooed their support for the 2009 legislation with promises to later address the peculiar needs of union-negotiated insurance plans that cover millions of workers....A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on the union leaders’ claims that they were misled. A person familiar with Obama’s meeting with the labor chiefs said he “listened to the group’s concerns with empathy” but explained that the law would not permit the administration to take the steps they requested.

Obama administration officials and some outside experts said that if the unions got their way, people enrolled in their plans would be indirectly getting two tax benefits while most Americans get only one....“You can’t just order people to do stuff,” Taylor said. “If their health plan gets wrecked, why would they then go campaign for the folks responsible for wrecking their health care?”http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/labor-union-officials-say-obama-betrayed-them-in-health-care-rollout/2014/01/31/2cda6afc-8789-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

Democrat union members see the democrat party as the "the folks responsible for wrecking their health care?"

Are the union leaders correct, that Obama promised something the white house now says is against the law?

Uh bullshit! Has nothing to do with being a Democrat. Do we need to bring up wives dragged out by Republicans after their inappropriate behavior? Of course not, this is only a Dem problem according to Billy. David Vitter is really a Dem. BTW, Paul is only trying to distract from the fact the Repubs are bad on womens' issues thus the sizable advantage Dems have in the single women vote.

Lilacpr, "First of all, I may have never said it but I am a stickler for correct grammar. It is "A BALD face lie",not "ball" :)

Secdond,yes it prolly is Irish O'Bama!

Thirdly anybody that knows a little about body language could tell that O'Reilly was shitting bricks!"

Whether it's a bald face lie or a ball face lie depends on where you come from. I am below the bible belt and we have our own sayings. Some of you PR Negroes wouldn't know anything about that. But in Oklahoma and Texas and LA, the english language is different.

So there! Also, Obama looked weak and O'Reilly looked strong. If you don't believe me listen to the FACTOR tonight and it will be explained by O'Reilly and Krauthammer.

Anonymous said...Whether it's a bald face lie or a ball face lie depends on where you come from. I am below the bible belt and we have our own sayings. Some of you PR Negroes wouldn't know anything about that. But in Oklahoma and Texas and LA, the english language is different.

So there! Also, Obama looked weak and O'Reilly looked strong. If you don't believe me listen to the FACTOR tonight and it will be explained by O'Reilly and Krauthammer.8:44 PM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~First that's a lot of baloney the English language is the same al o0ver except for some colloquialisms, and that's not one of them. You just made that up!

Second let me give you some praise and recognition for all the fine work you do here:) Now leave the field alone!

Thirdly, Obama was suave and charming and in complete control of everything,that Black man is a fine azzz mo'fo' and you gotta admit it too! Even Billlo fell inlove last night! ;*D

O'reilly was real sceeeered momma! He was sitting on the edge of that chair and leaning forward almost holding his body up with his hands on his thighs at times. He was ASKEEEEERED MOMMA! Ahahahaha! and you know it!Ahahahahaha!

Field Negro, This is the equivalent of "blood libel". You engage in agitprop here, with the meek disclaimer at the end. The story is reprehensible either as fiction or fact. There is no way to discern the truth here. However, you often post that Negro slaves were a valuable commodity that financed the industrial revolution. If that were indeed the case, why would a slave owner sadistically, heartlessly use another human being as bait for gators? If they were valuable, then the owner would want to raise up the child for the future benefit of the labor it would produce. Economically, the story is nonsensical. That does not mean impossible, as there are sickos and murderous sorts out there... just go see thugreport.com or go to Baltimore or Killadelphia. So, as we say in the British system, "not proven".

Of course this sounds awful, sick ,and cruel. But would this have really happened?, the way the poor people were "valued" as "material" and "free" labor, why would they waste innocent children?, that could grow up as strong workers, instead of using chicken parts, or other farm animal parts, after preparing the animals for supper? Makes me cry. I red this and my little girl asked me "why are you crying? Mommy" i didn't have the heart to explain it to her so young.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/383357/setting-record-straight-jim-crow-john-fund. Jim Crow was a Democrat, as were the KKK. If you want to think the parties switched ideologies, the Left still love Margaret Sanger and get awards in honor of this "lady" who was a sex-maniac and who wanted to get rid of black people (they also love and give to get organization established to do just that, which is mostly centered in minority neighborhoods). Thusly, cut the crap about the right-wing being the haters.

Why do we never hear of black people who did big things before Civil Rights Act, which Republicans made possible? Why? Because it defies the rhetoric the Left needs Blacks and uncritically-thinking young adults, since the '60s, to hear in order to keep them on their voter plantation. What ones they don't hide, they manipulate the philosophy of whom. Watch "America" by D'Souza, who is not a white man and who came from a socialist country, India. Think outside your boxes built for you by the Left, who tell you you think objectively and critically by parroting them and who have public consequences, including racial slurs, for not doing so. I can't believe black people sit back and let white leftists and your own use derogatory terms against anyone, even if conservative--and then accuse Republicans of being racist! No wonder neither party'scripted take you seriously, as a whole! Wake up and kick the two black irreverends out on the street, trust in God, only, and get your families together (as must we do the same)!

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"Half a century after Little Rock, the Montgomery bus boycott and the tumultuous dawn of the modern civil rights era, the new face of the movement is Facebook, MySpace and some 150 black blogs united in an Internet alliance they call theAfroSpear.

Older, familiar leaders such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, are under challenge by a younger generation of bloggers known by such provocative screen names as Field Negro, thefreeslaveand African American Political Pundit. And many of the newest struggles are being waged online."~Howard Witt-The Chicago Tribune~

"I had no idea, for example, of the extent of the African-American blogging world out there and its collective powers of dissemination.But now, after reading thousands of anguished, thoughtful comments posted on these blogs reflecting on issues of persistent racial discrimination in the nation's schools and courtrooms, what's clear to me is that there's a new, "virtual" civil rights movement out there on the Internet that can reach more people in a few hours than all the protest marches, sit-ins and boycotts of the 1950s and 60s put together." ~Chicago Tribune Reporter, Howard Witt~